Dust-guard-wedge retainer



Dec. 17, 1929. L. H. STOMPS DUSTTGUARD WEDGE RETAINER Filed Nov. 18. 1926 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 LOUIS H. STOMPS, OF FAIRFIELD, ALABAMA DUST-GUARD-WEDGE RETAINER Application filed November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,086.

This invention relates to improved means for retaining or holding in place the so-called dust guard wedge which is adapted to close the opening through which the dust guard of a railway car journal box is inserted. The

invention will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and the features of novelty will be pointed out with particularly in the appended claim. In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the journal box of a railway car truck having a dust guard wedge retainer embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 represents the shell or body of a journal box which in the embodiment illustrated is formed integrally at one extremity of a truck side frame, the compression member of which is shown at 12. The journal box will be provided with the usual journals which form no part of the present invention and, hence, are not shown in detail. The axle 14 is provided with the usual journal portion 16 and with a slightly enlarged portion 18 around which is fitted a dust guard 20 usually made of wood, fibre or similar comparatively soft or non-abrasive material which will not injure or cut the axle as it rotates in use. The function of the dust guard asits name implies is to prevent the entrance of dust and other foreign matter into the interior of the journal box. The journal box is formed at its inner side with flanges 22 and 24 spaced apart sufliciently far to form a pocket 26 to accommodate the dust guard. Openings 28 and 30 are formed in the flanges 22 and 24 of such size that limited relative movement between the jour- 45 nal box and the axle can be had without interference of the parts. The pocket 26 has i an open mouth at the top as indicated at 32 to permit the initial insertion of the dust guard. My invention aims particularly to provide improved means for closing the mouth 32 so that foreign matter cannot enter the box through said mouth. To these ends, I provide an improved dust guard retainer wedge 34 which in the embodiment illustrated consists of a strip of wood substantially square in cross-section which is driven or wedged through aligned holes 36 and 38 formed in upstanding ears 40 and 41 formed integrally on the journal box adjacent the narrow ends of the pocket 26. After the retainer has been driven into place, I drive nails or dowels 42 through the same as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to prevent the retainer from being displaced. It is clear that the retainer 34 cannot be jogged out of and 38 is a tight or snug one. It is preferable in a device of this sort to have a fairly tight fit between the retainer 34 and the holes or sockets which receive it. Such a tight fit would probably hold it for a considerable length of time but due to the fact that railway car parts are subject to extreme temperatures and further to the constant vibration, it is apparent that in time the-wood might shrink or perhaps might wear and thus work the retainer loose. Such wear or loosening cannot cause the retainer to be displaced when the locking dowels 42 are pro vided as described.

place whether or not its fit in the holes 36 I I contemplate such modifications as would suggest this to those skilled in the art such as the substitution of screws, bolts or s ring dowel pins for the nails shown in the rawing.

What I claim is An axle journal box of the character described having a dust guard pocket formed therein with an open mouth at the top, the walls of said pocket extending above the top of the box, the end walls of said pocket having rectangular perforations therein and a wooden member of rectangular cross-section in wedged engagement with said perforations and closing said mouth and dowels driven in said wooden member to prevent dislodgement thereof upon shrinkage of the wood.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

LOUIS H. STOMPS. 

